Galvanizing machine extracting mechanism



y 8, 3 I c. E. BROWNELL 2,646,772

GALVANIZING MACHINE EXTRACTING MECHANISM Original Filed May 7, 1948 7 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TOR. C/f/ford E. Emma/l July 28, 1953 c. E. BROWNELL 2,646,772

GALVANIZING MACHINE EXTRACTING MECHANISM Original Filed May 7, 1948 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. Cl/ffofd f. fi/ au/xzefl BY July 28, 1953 Original Filed May 7, 1948 C. E. BROWN ELL GALVANIZING MACHINE EXTRACTING MECHANISM 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 a y 65 l i a; V

INVENTOR. Clifford 1.. fimmal/ July 28, 1953 c. E. BROWNELL GALVANIZING MACHINE EXTRACTING MECHANISM Original Filed May 7, 1948 llasheets-sheet 4 July 28, 1953 c. E. BROWNELL ,7

GALVANIZING MACHINE EXTRACTING MECHANISM' Original Filed May 7, 1948 11 Sheets-Sheetfi 39 i-a1 In. .1]! 44 its 47 so 5 I: INVENTOR.

BY w @m July 28, 1953 c. E. BROWNEL-L GALVANIZING MACHINE EXTRACTING MECHANISM Original Filed May 7, 1948 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 n o MM/@109 3 x 09 a 31 Na. n2

INVENTOR. (fl/Word f. 5/"0W/76// QILM, @w, My QM July 28, 1953 C. E. BROWN ELL GALVANIZING MACHINE EXTRACTING MEQHANISM:

Original Filed May '7, 1948 11 Shasta-Sheet 7 9N OE mt mow NNN x Qm OVN eVN QMN MB OWN 00- M M M m r m5 m5 M a QM. w,

y 23, 1953 c. E. BROWNELL 2,646,772

GALVANIZING MACHINE EXTRACTING MECHANISM Original Filed May 7. 1948 ll Sheets-SheetB Mia i f Y INVENTOR. j CAT/0m 5 Brawnefl July 28, 1953 c. E. BROWNELL GALVANIZING MACHINE EXTRACTING MECHANISM l1 Sheets-Sheet 10 Original Filed May 7, 1948 l/zz/ fl v dgo

' INVENTOR. P27 Cl/7f0/d firm/720 July 28, 1953 Original Filed May 7, 1948 c. E. BROWNELL 2,646,772

GALVANIZING MACHINE EXTRACTING MECHANISM ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented July 28, 1953 UNITED STAT S ATENT OFFICE GALVANIZING MACHINE EXTRACTING MECHANISM Cliiford E. Brownell, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Lisk-Savoy Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.

12 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for automatically galvanizing metallic receptacles and analogous objects and is a division of my priorfiled co-pending application Serial No. 25,655, now Patent No. 2,573,660, filed May 7, 1948.

Galvanizing sheet steel objects to protect them from corrosion is an ancient art and, as practiced commercially, comprises immersing the object in a bath of molten zinc through a floating layer of flux. The object is then moved in the zinc bath to another part thereof where the layer of flux is not present and is withdrawn.

The handling of the object in the molten zinc bath and the removal thereof from the bath is a process which requires considerable skill on the part of the workman due to the great weight of the zinc and its constant resistance to displacement and also because the object must be withdrawn from the bath and moved and rotated in various ways during its emergence and immediately thereafter to insure a uniform zinc coating. This handling and manipulation immediately after extraction from the bath also controls the surface appearance of the galvanized object, what is known in the art as spangle.

Galvanizing steel receptacles is today practiced universally by hand, the workman depositing, manipulating and withdrawing the receptacles from the zinc bath by means of tongs. Several workmen usually handle each article in succession, one workman depositing the article in the bath, another moving it from the zone of the floating flux layer, and still another withdrawing it from the bath and manipulating it immediately thereafter. It is also necessary for one of these workmen or an additional one to skim the surface of the zinc bath immediately before the article is withdrawn to remove an oxide scum which continuously forms thereon and mars the work if the article is drawn therethrough in the withdrawing operation.

The labor problem is notoriously bad in the galvanizing industry. The objects are cleansed in an acid pickling bath just before they are introduced to the galvanizing bath. Accordingly, strong acid fumes are present which are but one of a number of objectionable factors. Secondly, the heat of the galvanizing bath is great and a number of workmen must be directly adjacent to the bath and partly over it. Third, the fumes of the molten zinc itself and of the sal ammoniac 'flux floating thereon contribute to the bad conditions. Besides all this, the physical strain of handling the receptacles in the bath and in removing them from the bath is great and withall requires considerable skill and training.

Despite all this, .and notwithstanding the extreme difficulty of keeping a galvanizing plant properly manned, no successful machinery for carrying on the galvanizing of sheet steel receptacles has evolved prior to the present invention.

The present invention provides a machine which automatically effects all of the receptacle handling operations from a time prior to immersion of the receptacle to a point where the receptacle is completely drained and has cooled sufiiciently to prevent damage to the zinc coating by further handling. According to the present invention this automatic handling is carried on in a continuous manner so that a number of receptacles are in the process of being galvanized and handled automatically by the machine concurrently. That is, while the machine is in the actual process of immersing one receptacle one or more other receptacles will be passing through the molten zinc bath and a further receptacle will be being drained and deposited on a conveyor belt or the like at the delivery end of the machine.

The automatic galvanizing machine of the present invention is characterized by the fact that the handling of the receptacles is divided between three distinct sub-combinations of mechanical elments. The first of such sub-combinations, hereinafter generally referred to as the inserting mechanism, presents a receptacle to the zinc bath and deposits it partly therein without any of the machine parts of the sub-combination contacting the molten zinc.

The second of the sub-combinations handles the receptacles entirely beneath the surface of the zinc bath so that the zinc with which the receptacle handling means is constantly in contact is in a molten condition and has no opportunity to harden thereon and impede proper operation. This second subcombination, hereinafter generally referred to as the rotating arm assembly, grasps the particular submerged receptacle beneath the surface of the zinc bath, moves it therethrough, and moves it upwardly out of the bath without itself moving above the surface of the bath. A third sub-combination of elements, hereinafter generally referred to as the extracting mechanism, grasps a partially withdrawn receptacle at its upper side so that the extracting mechanism, like the inserting mechanism, never comes in contact with the molten zinc bath.

In the for-inv disclosed herein by way of example, the entire article handling mechanism is portable and is provided with power operated elevating and lowering means so that it may be freely removed completely from the galvanizing bath. This facilitates cleaning the bath which is necessary periodically and is known in the art as drossing. Also, it facilitates adjusting the normally submerged clamps or changing them for others for handling receptacles of a different size. The complete severability of the automatic handling means also makes it convenient to use the bath for hand galvanizing, if desirable.

The foregoing is merely a general outline of the broad principles of operation of the machine which forms the subject of the present invention. For a full understanding of its mode of operation, a complete embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail in the following specification. It is to be understood that such embodiment is by way of example and merely to illustrate the underlying principles of the present invention.

The scope of the invention is not limited to the form shown by way of example nor otherwise than as defined in the appended claims. The machine shown in the drawings and described in the following specification is proportioned and designed for accomplishing the galvanizing of ordinary water buckets or pails, such as are commonly used in domestic housework, but the same principles may be applied to receptacles of other proportions and styles and to other objects which require similar handling in galvanizing.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of one form of the article handling mechanism of the present invention, viewed generally from the front and shown dissociated from the galvanizing bath proper;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, likewise viewed generally from the front of the mechanism but from the right-hand or delivery side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the buckets shown in Fig. I removed;

Fig. 4 is a general perspective view of the article handling mechanism taken from the rear;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mechanism for introducing buckets to the machine, that is, the inserting mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective view of the outer end of the inserting mechanism of Fig. 5 viewed generally in plan;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary elevational View showing a rocker arm which controls the operation of the inserting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the mechanism and the control means which are operativ to move the buckets through the galvanizing bath to the removal zone, called herein the rotating arm assembly;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the mechanism of Fig. 8 as viewed as indicated by the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the line i0i0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary end view of one of the clamping devices for grasping the buckets within the molten zinc bath;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the bucket extractor mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but with portions omitted for added clearness and with the mechanism in another position of operation;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12 with the parts in still another position of operation;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary top plan view of the mechanism of Figs. 12 through 14, viewed as indicated by the line I5-l5 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the main operating shaft of the extractor mechanism of Figs. 12 through 15;

Fig. 1'? is a fragmentary partial cross-sectional view of the outer end bucket gripping portion of the bucket extractor mechanism viewed generally as in Figs. 12 through 14 but on a larger scale;

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional View on the line l8l8 of Fi 16;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary end elevational view, partly in cross-section, showing means for elevating and lowering th major part of the article handling mechanism for bringing it into position with respect to a galvanizing bath;

Fig. 20 is a partial top plan view of the main drive mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 21 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of the galvanizing bath of the machine of the present invention with the location of the rotating arm assembly of the article handling mechanism indicated schematically;

Fig. 22 is a schematic top plan view of the galvanizing bath, likewise with the location of the rotating arm assembly indicated schematically;

Fig. 23 is a schematic view of the clamp controlling air cylinder of the inserter mechanism showing the valve control means therefor; and

Fig. 24 is an elevational View, partly in crosssection, of the master valve for the air cylinder of Fig. 23.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, like characters of reference denote like parts and the following description will deal, in order, with the three main components into which the machine naturally divides; namely, the mechanism for bringing the buckets to the bath, the mechanism for handling the buckets in the bath, and the mechanism for removing the buckets from the bath and properly draining them.

Bucket inserting mechanism The bucket inserting mechanism is indicated generally at 39 in Figs. 1 through 4 and is shown in detail in Figs. 5 through 7. The bucket inserting mechanism is adapted to pick buckets from an elevated platform 3! and move them to the galvanizing bath where they are picked up by submerged bucket handling means, designated generally 32 in Fig. 5 and in Figs. 1 through 4 and described in detail under a succeeding heading. The buckets may be placed in proper introductory position on platform 3! by hand or may be fed automatically thereto by any suitable conveyor means.

The bucket introducing mechanism 36 is supported by a table 34, which will be discussed further later herein, by means of a bearing bracket 35. Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, an arm 3? has opposed trunnions 38 which bear at opposite sides in bracket 35 for rotative movement about a horizontal axis. A shaft 39 is journaled at its inner end in arm 31 for rotative movement about its own longitudinal axis and has a bevel pinion 4E1 fixed thereto adjacent to arm 3?.

At its outer end shaft 39 has fixed thereto an offset arm 42 which rigidly supports a fixed clamp bar 43. A movable clamp 44 has an operating rod 65 slidable in arm 32 and an operating piston 48 movable in an air cylinder 4'! secured to arm 42. Air connections 48 and 49 to the opposite ends of cylinder ti control clamping and unclamping movements of clamp 44.

Considering the full line position of the parts in Fig. 5, the back end of arm 31 is pivotally engaged by a yoke 53 which is in turn pivotally secured, through the medium of a turnbuckle adjustment 54 to a crank 55 fixed to a supporting shaft 56 journaled in bearings 58 and 59 supported by table 34, all as clearly shown in plan in Fig. 20.

Referring to Fig. 20, the numeral 65 denotes the main drive motor of the machine which connects with a conventional speed reducing gear box 66 by means of a belt drive 61, both the motor and the gear box being disposed upon the table 34. The output shaft 68 of gear box 66 has a supporting bearing 69 and a sprocket I9 which is connected by means of a chain II to a sprocket I2 fixed to shaft 56.

For each rotation of shaft 56, crank 55 reciprocates yoke 53 and thus moves shaft 39 downwardly and upwardly between the full-line and dot-anddash line positions of Fig. 5, shaft 39 pivoting about trunnions 38. When shaft 39 is in its upper limit position as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 5, the clamping mechanism 43, 44 faces rearwardly, as shown, to be in position to clamp over the upper and lower edges of a bucket on platform 3|, the bucket being designated A in Fig. 5.

As yoke 53 moves rearwardly, shaft 39 moves from the upper to the lower full-line position of Fig. 5 and as it does so, bevel pinion 49 rotates in planetary fashion about a fixed bevel gear I5 which rotates shaft 39 on its own axis, it being journaled in arm 31 as heretofore described. Shaft 39 rotates through an angle of 180 in its movement from the upper limit position to the lower limit position, at which position the clamping mechanism faces downwardly and thus properly presents bucket A to the mechanism whic handles the buckets in the galvanizing bath.

Referring to Fig. 7, a rocker arm 1'! is fixed to one of the trunnions 38 of arm 31 and is shown in the position it occupies when shaft 39 is in its upper position. In this position, an adjusting screw I9 carried by one of the arms of rocker arm 's'! is in engagement with the operating element of a pilot valve I9 which operates a master valve (to be described later herein) which connects the ports 48 and 49 of cylinder 41 in such manner as to move clamp element 44 to clamping position.

After shaft 39 has swung downwardly to the full-line position of Fig. 5, a second adjustable screw 82 carried by the other arm of rocker arm I! operates a second pilot valve 89 which acts upon the master valve to reverse the application of air pressure to cylinder 41 and thus release clamp 44 immediately after the engagement of bucket A by the submerged bucket-handling mechanism 32.

Mechanism for handling buckets in the bath (rotating arm assembly) The mechanism for receiving the buckets from the inserting mechanism and for passing them through the bath to the position where they are extracted therefrom is illustrated primarily in Figs. 8 through 11, in addition to the general views, Figs. 1 through 4.

Referring to Fig. 8 a main drive and supporting shaft for the bath mechanism is designated 99 and is journaled in bearings 9| and 92 fixed to an oblique plate 93 which is part of a bracket 94 fixed to table 34. The bearing means 9| include thrust means for retaining shaft 9!] against displacement in an axial direction. Shaft 90 is of rods I95.

continuously rotated during operation of the machine by means which will now be described. Since the rotating arm assembly operated by and with shaft 99, and of which shaft 99 is a principal component, includes four bucket clamping stations, the speed of rotation of shaft 99 will be one-fourth that of shaft 56 of the drive mechanism, so that one of the four sets of clamping mechanisms associated with shaft 99 is presented in the bucket receiving position, as shown in Fig. 8 each time the shaft 39 of the inserting mechanism introduces a bucket thereto.

A countershaft 95 is journaled in bracket 94 for rotation parallel to shaft 99 and carries a helical gear 91 which is driven by a mating helical gear 99 fixed to drive shaft 56 of Figs. 8 and 20. Countershaft 96 and shaft 99 have sprockets 99 and I99, respectively, connected by a driving chain IOI.

Fixed to the lower end of shaft 99 are four radiating pairs of spaced plates I93 which are notched as at I04 in Fig. 8 to provide relatively stationary clamp jaws. Between each pair of spaced plates I93 there is disposed a rod I95, the upper end of each rod I95 having longitudinal slide bearing in a sleeve I96 fixed to shaft 99 for rotation therewith.

The lower ends of the several rods I95 are divergent as shown and have plates I99 welded or otherwise fixed thereto. Plates I98 have screw and slot connection with clamping jaws I99, whereby the latter may be adjusted to suit buckets of various heights. Rods I95 are normally held in their upper clamping position by means of compression coil springs I I2 which encircle the upper portion of each rod and bear at one end against sleeve I06 and at their other ends against outwardly projecting blocks II3 which are retained on rods I95 by means of nuts II4. Shaft 99 has bearing in bearing 92 through the medium of sleeve I99 which is primarily journaled in bearing 92.

Reference will now be had to the means for controlling the clamping and unclamping action By Way of explanation, the presence of a bucket in Fig. 8 is for illustrative purposes only and may be confusing as, in fact, buckets are not present in the clamping mechanism at top dead center. The machine, in the present illustrative embodiment is timed so that arm 39 introduces a bucket to a clamping station of the rotating arm assembly 99, I95, etc. when a particular pair of clamps I94, I99 are about 10 to 15 past top dead center. It is, therefore, at this point that clamp I 09 should move to a clamping position. Likewise, the extractor mechanism to be be described later engages a bucket to remove it at a point about 10 to 15 before the clamps of the rotating arm assembly which are holding the bucket have reached top dead center. It is accordingly at this point that a particular rod I 95 must operate to unclamp the bucket from the submerged rotating arm assembly.

Referring to Fig. 8, the numerals I29 and I2! designate a bracket assembly supported rigidly by bracket 94 and in turn supporting an air cylinder I22 having air connections I23 and I24 at its opposite ends. A slide bracket I26 is guided for longitudinal movement relative to: the bracket portion I2| and includes a lug I2! for engagement successively against the several offset blocks 3 of rods I95. Blocks II3 comprise sectors so that lug I21 will remain in engagement with a block M3 for a considerable angular extent if it is moved to the position for engaging such block. Air cylinder I22 includes a piston I30 whose piston rod I3I is fixed to a part of slide bracket I26 to control its movements.

A pair of cams I34 and I35 are mounted upon shaft 96 and are angularly adjustable thereon by means of screws I 38 which pass through arouate slots in the cams and engage a block I39 fixed to shaft 96. Cam I34 engages a pilot valve I42 which acts upon a master valve to connect the passages I23 and I24 of air cylinder I22 so as to move lug I2I of slide bracket I26 against whichever of the blocks I I3 is in a generally upper position. This releases clamp I09 at the proper moment for the bucket secured thereby to be engaged by the extractor mechanism, now from to before top dead center.

As the arm assembly 90, I05, etc. continues to rotate, lug I2! remains in engagement with block II3 to hold clamp I09 unclamped until the second cam I engages the operating element of a pilot valve I43 which reverses the connection of passages I23 and I24 of air cylinder I22 through the medium of the master valve and retracts lug I22, permitting spring II2 of the particular rod I05 to move clamp I09 to clamping position. Repeating, this occurs about 10 or 15 after the particular clamp has passed top dead center and shaft 39 has positioned a successive bucket for reception by clamps I04 and I09. It will be noted that the single air cylinder I22 and cam and pilot valve assembly therefor serves successively to act upon each of the four clamping assemblies of the rotating arm assembly.

Bucket extracting mechanism Reference will now be had to the means for removing the buckets from the arm assembly which rotates in the bath. In this connection it is to be noted that the problem involves more than merely grasping the bucket and transferring it to a final delivery position.

From the time when the bucket begins to emerge from the molten zinc bath until it is deposited as a complete product it must be manipulated bodily and rotatively in a somewhat complex manner to properly drain the molten zinc from all parts of the bucket and to control the flow of zinc over the surface of the bucket, both inside and out, to produce not only a uniform thickness of coating but also What is known in the art as uniform and proper spangle, the characteristic mottled appearance of galvanized ware.

In manual galvanizing, as now universally practiced, this operation is performed by a skilled workman. The quality of the galvanized product depends upon his skill in manipulating and timing the manipulation of the bucket while the molten zinc is draining therefrom and the remaining zinc coating is hardening thereon.

The construction of the extracting mechanism will now be described, reference being had particularly to Figs. 12 through 18. Referring to Figs. 12 and 15, the numeral I designates a bearing bracket fixed to table 34 and comprising a pair of parallel upstanding walls between which the extractor mechanism generally is pivotally supported.

As shown in Figs. 12, 15, and 16, a sleeve I5I has trunnions I52 which extend rotatably through the walls of bracket I56 and a rearwardly extending arm I53 is fixed to sleeve I5I. A bifurcated link I55 pivotally engages the back end of arm I53 as at I56 and is pivoted at its other end to the outer end of a crank I58 fixed to shaft E6 of the main drive means, see Fig. 20.

A shaft I60 has anti-friction bearing support in sleeve I5I as at I6I and I62 and has fixed thereto a bevel gear I63 having an extended hub or sleeve portion I 64, all as clearly shown in Fig. 16. Shaft I60 is retained in sleeve I5I against axial displacement by means of a washer I65 and a nut I66. At its forward end sleeve I64 of bevel gear I63 has fixed therein a shaft I I0 which has fixed to its outer end a transverse generally vertical pin II I. Note that shaft I60, bevel gear I63, shaft I10 and transverse pin IlI comprise a fixed unitary extractor arm structure rotatable in sleeve I5I.

The lower end of pin I'II gives pivotal support to a bucket clamp block I14, a trunnion I15 fixed to block I74 being journaled in pin I'll as shown in Fig. 12. The bucket clamp means proper of the extractor mechanism is shown in detail in Fig. 17. Block I'M comprises a relatively fixed clamp block engageable at the outside of a bucket and a movable clamp plate IT! is engageable at the inside of the bucket as shown in the full-line position of Fig. 17.

A pair of parallel links I18 and IE9 connect pivotally between clamp block I74 and clamp plate I'll to guide the latter from the full-line clamping position illustrated in Fig. l? to the dot-and-dash line position where it is not only unclamped but is withdrawn from the interior of the bucket.

An operating lever 62 for the clamping mechanism is pivoted as at I83 to a bracket I84 which forms a part of clamp block I14 and lever I82 is pivotally connected at its lower end to a link I85 which connects pivotally with one of the link pivots of the movable clam plate Ill. Also supported by clamp block I'M is an air cylinder I88 having air pressure connections E89 and I90 at its opposite ends and an operating piston and piston rod I9I and S92, respectively, the latter having pin and lot connection at its outer end with operating lever I32 as indicated at I64. It is believed that the manner in which the application of fluid pressure to the opposite ends of cylinder I88 moves clamp plate H! to and from clamping position is obvious from the foregoing.

It has been noted that the entire bucket clamping mechanism of the extractor is pivoted to the extractor arm generally by means of trunnion I75 of clamp block I'I being journaled in the lower end of the transverse pins I'll of the extractor arm. The mechanism which controls pivotal movement of the clamping mechanism relative to the extractor arm will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 14, a bell crank 206 is pivoted to the upper end of transverse pin IlI of the extractor arm as at 2M and one arm thereof is pivoted to a link 202 as at 253. The other end of link 2132 is pivoted to clamp block I M as at 264. The other arm of bell crank 213i! is pivoted to one end of an adjustable link 20 5 as at 26'; and the other end of link 206 is pivoted to a collar 233 as at 269. Collar 233 is slidable axially relative to the extractor arm, being fixed to an annular end flange 2II of a sleeve 2I2 which is mounted for free sliding movement on sleeve I64 of bevel gear I63, see Fig. 16.

From the foregoing it will be seen that outward or forward movement of collar 208 will rock bell crank 200 in a counterclockwise direction and, through. link connection 292, rock the clamping mechanism in a counterclockwise direction about trunnion I15. Inward or rearward movement of collar 208 will rock the clamping mechanism in a clockwise direction. The means for producing axial movement of collar 268 will now be described.

A disc 2I5 is fixed against the annular flange 2II of sleeve 2I2 by means of a collar 2I6, again referring to Fig. 16. Bevel gear I63 has a face cam formation 2H and cam 2H and disc 2i5 coact only when the extractor arm assembly is in the raised position illustrated in Fig. 14.

A compression coil spring 2I8 disposed about sleeve I64 of bevel gear I63 acts between collar 260 and a collar 220 fixed to sleeve I64 to urge the assembly comprising collar 208, sleeve 2I2 and disc 2.!5 rearwardly, that is, to the right as viewed in Fig. 16, until the right hand or rear end of sleeve 2I2 abuts bevel gear I63, as there shown. Incidentally, the assembly including collar is restrained against rotative movement relative to sleeve I64 by means of a screw 22I, see Fig. 18, which engages a keyway 222 in sleeve I64.

Referring to Fig. 14, a slide 225 is supported for guided sliding movement between the upper portions of the walls of bracket I and carries a pair of rollers 226 and 221. When the extractor arm is in the raised position illustrated in Fig. 14, roller 226 is in position to be engaged by cam formation 2I'I of bevel gear I53 and roller 221, in turn, acts against disc 2I5 to impart counterclockwise movement to the extractor clamp assembly against the bias of spring 2I8.

A bevel gear 230 meshing with bevel gear I63 is mounted for free rotation on one of the trunnions I52 of sleeve I5I. When bevel gear 230 is held against rotation and the extractor arm is raised or lowered by pivotal movement on trunnions I52 bevel gear I63 derives rotative movement by planetary rotation about bevel gear 230. Bevel gear I63 is desired to have further rotative movement by direct drive from bevel gear 230 and the means for rotating bevel gear 230 to produce such driving and for other purposes to be explained later will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, a line 234 is pivoted at its forward end to bevel gear 230 as at 235 and is provided with a cam follower 236 at its rear end. The rear portion of link 234 is constrained to a predetermined path of movement by a link 23! which is pivoted thereto as at 238 and to table 34 as at 239. Link 234 is normally urged rearwardly by an extension spring 240, one end of which is secured to a bracket 24I on link 234 and the other end of which is secured to a bracket 243 which is fixed to and extends rearwardly from bearing 59.

Movement of link 234 is controlled by a cam 245 fixed to drive shaft 56. The contour of cam 245 includes a low gradually falling portion of considerable extent during which link 234 moves rearwardly from the position illustrated in Fig. I2, and during this part of the operation bevel gear 230 is rotated in a clockwise direction. Following this on the cam 245 there is a relatively abrupt rise and fall which reciprocates link 234 forwardly and then rearwardly through a much greater distance than the initial movement referred to.

As shown in Fig. 12, one of the trunnions I52 of sleeve I5I has an arm 248 fixed thereto which, upon lowering movement of the extractor arm I assembly to the position of Fig. 12, automaticallyengages a pilot valve 249 which actuates a master valve to connect cylinder I88 for moving the clamp plate IT! to clamping position. A second pilot valve for reversing the connections to cylinder I88 to unclamp is associated with the inserting mechanism and operates simultaneously with the inserter unclamping pilot valve 86. Referring to Fig. '7, a pilot valve indicated by the numeral 250 is located directly behind pilot valve 60 as viewed in Fig. '7 and a second adjustable contact screw 25I is carried by a lateral extension 252 of rocker arm 11, screw 25I being direct-.- ly behind screw 02 as viewed in Fig. 7. Pilot valve 250 and contact screw 25I therefor appear in Fig. 1.

A cycle of operation of the extractor mecha-' nism will now be described, beginning with the position of the parts in Fig. 12 where the clamping mechanism has just operated, by movement of arm 246 to operate pilot valve 249, to engage a bucket presented thereto by the mechanism which supports the buckets in their movement through the galvanizing bath. The clamping mechanism in the bath is timed to release a bucket within a brief period after it has been engaged above the bath by the extractor clamp mechanism.

Beginning with Fig. 12, during the first 180 of movement of drive shaft 56, the extractor arm assembly, including sleeve I5I, shafts I60 and I10 and their associated parts, move upward by reason of the operation of crank I56 and link I55 on arm I53 of sleeve I5I. During the first of this movement, there is a falling off of the profile of cam 245 so that link 234 moves to the right, as viewed in Fig. 12, and rotates gear 230 about 15 in a clockwise direction which, by reason of the gear ratio, tends to rotate bevel gear I63 in a clockwise direction as viewed from the front of the machine.

This movement of bevel gear 230 is provided merely to neutralize the tendency which gear I63 would otherwise have to rotate in a counterclockwise direction along bevel gear 230 by planetary action if bevel gear 230 were stationary. In

- other words, during this 150 of movement bevel gear I63 has no rotation about its own axis. The mechanism is arranged to operate in this manner because it is desired to lift the bucket out of the bath with no lateral or rotative movement. Lateral movement during this period of continued emergence of the bucket from the bath would pick up scum from the surface of the bath and affect the quality of the work by marring the surface thereon.

During the last 30 of this first half revolution of drive shaft 56, cam 245 has a dwell and gear 230 is therefore held stationary. During this period bevel gear I63 rotates by planetary action against bevel gear 230 and this causes cam formation 2I'I to act against cam follower 226 tomove the clamping mechanism quickly downwardly about trunnion II5, through cam follower 221, the intervening disc 2E5, collar 208, link 206, bell crank 200, and link 202, all in the manner previously described. This movement drains molten zinc from the recess at the outside of the bottom of the bucket, as shown in Fig. 14 and shakes drops from the edge thereof by reason of the abruptness of the movement.

During this same 30 period, the planetary r0- tation of bevel gear I63 rotates the clamping mechanism about the axis of bevel gear 63 in a counterclockwise direction to begin rotation of the bucket, the bucket then being again held with its bottom slightly higher than its top, approxi- 11 mately as indicated in Fig. 13, the cam forma tion 2I'I having by this time left follower 226, and the clamp mechanism having been restored to its initial position of inclination relative to trunnion I15 by operation of spring 2I6 against collar 268.

At the conclusion of the first 186 of rotation of drive shaft 56, the relatively large lobe formation of cam 245 has already begun to act upon follower 236 to rotate gear 236 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 12 through 14 through the operation of link 234. This augments the counterclockwise rotation of bevel gear I63 and the bucket is thus relatively-rapidly revolved about the general axis of the extractor arm, and this rotation continues during approximately the first 90 of the second half of the rotation of drive shaft 56, or until the high point of the lobe of cam 245 is in contact with follower 236.

As shown in Figs. 12 through 14, the extractor clamp mechanism is offset rearwardly from the axis of the extractor arm as viewed in those figures. Referring to Fig. l, the clamping mechanism is offset to the left of the axis of the extractor arm when the parts are in the beginning position illustrated in Fig. 12, as viewed from the front of the machine.

Rotation of the extractor arm beginning at about 150 through the cycle and continuing to about 270 through the cycle revolves the extractor clamping mechanism through approximately 180 about the axis of the extractor arm, so that at this point in the cycle the extractor clamp mechanism would be forwardly of the axis of the extractor arm assembly as viewed in Figs. 12 to 14 or to the right of that axis as viewed from the front of the machine. Also this revolution moves the parts so that the bucket is directly above the stationary clamp block IN, rather than below as in Figs. 12 through 14.

The bucket is thus in a position more to the right, as viewed from the front of the machine, than when it was engaged by the clamping mechanism. At this point the extractor clamp plate [TI releases by operation of air cylinder I88 and the bottom of the bucket drops downwardly, the outside wall thereof near the top of the bucket pivoting about the point on the clamp block marked 255 in Fig. 17; the'clarnping mechanism then being, of course, in an up-side-down position from that shown in Fig. 17, and the bucket thus drops to a vertical upright position upon a suitably located conveyor belt for ultimate delivery.

During the next 75 of operation of drive shaft 56, that is from about 270 to 345, cam 2-55 returns toward initial position and the extractor arm is again lowered and rotated to approximately the initial position, spring 246 serving to draw the link 23-; rearwardly and rotate gear 236 in a clockwise direction to cooperate with and augment the planetary action of gear 563 and thus revolve the clamping mechanism reversely through 180 to initial position. The profile of cam 265 during the last 15 of the cycle is such that it again neutralizes planetary action of gear I63 and the extractor arm drops straight down to pick up a succeeding bucket and repeat the extracting process.

General arrangement The description thus far has referred to the galvanizing bath only in general terms. As illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4 the entire inserting, rotating and extracting mechanism is portably mounted upon a frame 266, see Fig. 3, having casters 26I, so that the article handling mechanism can be brought to a point adjacent the galvanizing bath and then moved into proper position relative thereto. Referring to Fig. 19, table 34 is hinged at its rear edge to a base plate 262 as at 263 and base plate 263 is provided with grooved wheels 266 which engage an inverted V-shaped track 265 at the rear edge of an upper frame portion 256 of the frame 266. Near its forward edge base plate 262 has plain wheels 268 for operation on the upper frame portion 266 of frame 266,

Air cylinders 216 are pivoted at their lower ends to the forward portion of table 34 at opposite ends thereof, and the piston rods 2' of air cylinders 2E6 are pivoted at their outer or lower ends to base plate 262 as at 212. Cylinder 216 has air connections 215 and 216 at its upper and lower ends, respectively, and these passages connect with a conventional three-way manual valve designated 278 in Fig. 4. Valve 224 may be moved from its illustrated neutral position to connect air pressure to either the upper or lower end of cylinder 216 and thus move its piston (not shown) in either direction therein.

It is believed that the operation of air cylinder 216 in raising table 2%, and accordingly the entire article handling machine, from the full-line position of Fig. 19 to the dot-and-dash line position is obvious from the foregoing. When table 34 is raised to the dot-and-dash line position of Fig. 19 by operation of air cylinder 216, it may be held safely and securely therein by means of arms 286 pivoted at one end to table 34 and adapted to depend therefrom into supporting engagement upon base plate 262 as shown in Fig. 19.

In Figs. 21 and 22 the numeral 282 designates a steel tank adapted to contain molten zinc as at 263. A refractory jacket for the tank 282 is designated 284 and has openings 285 to expose portions of tank 262 for heating by means of gas jets 285. At the upper rear portion of the bath there is a plate 296 disposed at the same level as the upper frame portion 266 of frame 266 and provided with an inverted V-shaped rail 29I.

Frame 266 is brought to the bath with tracks 265 and 29! in alignment and the article handling mechanism is rolled from frame 266 onto the plate 296. In Figs. 21 and 22 the numeral 293 designates a flux box which is open at its upper and lower sides and extends a short distance into the bath 283. Flux box 266 contains a layer of sal ammoniac flux which floats on the surface of the molten zinc within the flux box as at 294, and the inserter mechanism is positioned to dispose buckets into the bath through this flux blanket.

In Figs. 21 and 22 the approximate location of shaft 66 of the rotating arm assembly during galvanizing operation is indicated schematically. However, in order to avoid interference of parts in bringing the article handling mechanism into proper assembly with the galvanizing bath, the handling mechanism is initially moved to a position more to the right, as viewed in Fig. 22, than its final position. The table 36 is then lowered to project the clamps I66, I66, etc. into the bath as indicated in Fig. 8, and the article handling means is then moved somewhat to the left to bring shaft 96 into the approximate position indicated'inFig. 22,

In galvanizing generally, it is necessary to frequently skim the surface of the bath at the point where the article emerges therefrom, usually each time an article is to be extracted from the 13 tank. In using the apparatus of the present invention, this skimming may be eifected manually between the emergence of successive articles. However, if desired, automatic skimming means may be incorporated withoutdeparting from the principles of the present invention.

Clamp control air cylinders In describing the clamp control air cylinders of the inserter, the rotating arm assembly. and the extractor, those cylinders being designated 41, 122, and 188, respectively, reference was had to a pair of pilot valves, in each instance, for effecting clamping and unolamping operation of the air cylinders through the medium of a master control valve. The three master contro1 valves are identical and may be located about the machine wherever convenient, the connections being the master control valves and the air cylinders being by means of flexible conduits.

In the present example air controlled master valves and pilot valves of the Ross Operating Valve Co. are used and these devices are familiar to those skilled in the automatic machine art. However, to render the present disclosure complete, the air control system of the inserter clamp mechanism will be set forth schematically. Since the pilot and master valve systems of the rotating arm assembly clamp mechanism and the extractor clamp mechanism are identical with that of the inserter, no further reference to those systems is necessary.

Referring to Fig. 24, a Ross pressure controlled master valve comprises a casing 300, the details of the interior passages thereof being shown only schematically in Fig. 23. The casing contains a pair of aligned normally closed poppet valves 301 and 302 and a pair of normally open poppet valves 303 and 304. A rocker arm 306 is normally biased to the counterclockwiseposition of Fig. 24 by the springs of valves 301 and 302.

A plunger 308 operating in a cylinder 309 in casing 300 is moved upwardly by pressure from the pilot valve system and when so moved an abutment 310 thereon engages the rocker arm 303 and rocks it in a clockwise direction where upon the latter opens valves 301 and 302 and permits the lighter springs of valves 303 and 304 to move them to closed position. When pilot valve pressure against piston 308 ceases, the valves again assume the position illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24.

Referring to the general schematic view, Fig. 23, pressure from a compressed air supply designated 312 goes by way of conduit 313 to valves 302 and 303 and by way of conduit 314 to a lower chamber 315 (as viewed in Fig. 23) of pilot valve 19 of the inserter. This chamber is normally closed off from an upperchamber 311 ofpilot valve by a valve 318 held closed by a relatively light spring 319.

An outlet conduit 320 from upper chamber 31'! of pilot valve '19 connects with the lower chamber of pilot valve 80 of the inserter. The interior 7 construction of pilot valve 80 is identical with the interior of pilot valve '19. Outlet conduit 320 also connects with cylinder 309. The upper chamber of pilot valve 80 exhausts freely to the atmosphere at 321. Pilot valve 19 has a plunger 323 biased outwardly by a spring 324 for unseating valve 318' by inward movement of the plunger occasioned by engagement of screw 18' of rocker arm 11 therewith. Pilot valve 80 has a similar-operating plunger 326 for unseating its valve (not-shown) .I

In Fig. 23 the clamp operating cylinder of the inserter is indicated at 41 and its left-hand air connection 48, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 23, is connected, by means of a conduit 328, to a passage of the master valve designated 321 and extending between valve 301 and the side of valve 303 opposite to the air pressure connection 313. The other connection 40 of cylinder 4'1 is connected to valve 302, at the side opposite to the compressed air supply passage 313, by a passage 329. This same opposite side of valve 302 is connected to one side of valve 304 by a passage 330, and the other side of valve 304 is connected to the side of valve 301 opposite to passage 32'! by a passage 331. The side of valve 301 opposite passage 32! is vented to the atmosphere as at 334.

With the valves in the position shown in Fig. 23 compressed air is applied to the left end of cylinder 4'1 by way of conduit 313, open valve 303, and passages 321 and 328, and piston 46 is accordingly in its right-hand unelamping position. At the same time the right end of cylinder 41 is vented to the atmosphere by way of conduit 329, passage 330, open valve 304, passage 331 and exhaust outlet 334. The movable clamp element 44 is thus held in its unclamped position.

Upon engagement of screws 18 of rocker arm 11, Fig. 7, against plunger 323 of pilot valve '19 in the upper position of shaft 39, valve 318 of pilot valve 19 is opened and spring 319 is inadequate to itself raise valve 318, in the absence of differential pressure thereagainst, to closed position when plunger 323 is released. Therefore, compressed air is connected through pilot valve '19 and conduit 320 to the master valve operating cylinder 309, and piston 308 thereof operates to reverse the valves 301 through 304.

Under these conditions compressed air flows through conduit 313, past open valve 302 (valve 303 being now closed), and through conduit 329 to the right-hand connection 49 of cylinder 4'1. At the same time left-hand connection 48 thereof is vented through conduit 328, past valve 301 which is now open, and through exhaust passage 334. Piston 46 is accordingly moved to the left to clamp a bucket.

Subsequently, when plunger 328 of pilot valve is depressed by engagement of screw 82 thereagainst, after shaft 39 has swung down to deliver the bucket to the rotating arm assembly of the tank handling mechanism, line 320 is vented through pilot valve 80 and exhaust passage 321, valve 318 is closed by the differential pressure thereon assisted by spring 319, the absence of pressure in cylinder 309 causes piston 308 to lower and valves 301 and 302 again are closed and valves 303 and 304 are reopened. This repeats the condition illustrated in Fig. 23 and the exhauster clamp is again released.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for extracting buckets and analogous articles from a galvanizing bath comprising a support, an extractor arm pivoted at one end to said support and having bucket gripping means at its opposite end, said arm. being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said arm having a lower position for gripping the upper projecting rim portion of a bucket partly projecting from a galvanizing bath, means for pivoting said arm upwardly to raise the bucket from the bath and incline the same to drain the interior thereof, and means operable after the bucket has left the bath to rotate said arm about its own axis to rotate the bucket during hardening of the coating to produce uniform. metal deposit and spangle.

' 2. Means for extracting buckets and analogous articles from a galvanizing bath comprising a support, an extractor arm pivoted at one end to said support and having bucket gripping means at its opposite end, said arm being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said arm having a lower position for gripping the upper projecting rim portion of a bucket partly projecting from a galvanizing bath, means for pivoting said arm upwardly to raise the bucket from the bath and incline the same to drain the interior thereof, means operable subsequently for moving the bucket gripping means to lower the bottom of the bucket relative to the top to drain its under side, and means operable after the bucket has left the bath to rotate said arm about its own axis to rotate the bucket during hardening of the coating to produce uniform metal deposit and spangle.

3. Means for extracting buckets and analogous articles from a galvanizing bath comprising a support, an extractor arm pivoted at one end to said support and having bucket gripping means at its opposite end, said arm being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said arm having a lower position for gripping the upper projecting rim portion of a bucket partly projecting from a galvanizing bath in approximately horizontal position, means for pivoting said arm upwardly to raise the bucket from the bath and incline the same to drain the interior thereof, and means operable after the bucket has left the bath to rotate said arm about its own axis to rotate the bucket during hardening of the coating to produce uniform metal deposit and spangle.

4. Means for extracting buckets and analogous articles from a galvanizing bath comprising a support, an extractor arm pivoted at one end to said support and having bucket gripping means at its opposite end, said arm being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said arm having a lower position for gripping the upper projecting rim portion of a bucket partly projecting from a galvanizing bath, means for pivoting said 'arm upwardly to raise the bucket from the bath and incline the same to drain the interior thereof, and means operable after the bucket has left the bath to rotate said arm about its own axis to rotate the bucket during hardening of the coating to produce uniform metal deposit and spangle, said gripping means being offset relative to the arm axis whereby said rotation displaces the bucket laterally from its point of emergence from the bath for release at a delivery point.

5. Means for extracting buckets and analogous articles from a molten metal bath comprising a support, an extractor arm pivoted at one end to said support and having bucket gripping means at its opposite end, said arm being rotatable about its longitudinal axis, said arm having a lower position for gripping the upper projecting rim portion of a bucket partly projecting from a galvanizing bath, means for pivoting said arm upwardly to raise the bucket from the bath and incline the same to drain the interior thereof, and means operable after the bucket has left the bath to rotate said arm about its own axis to rotate the bucket during hardening of the coating to produce uniform metal deposit.

6. Means for extracting buckets and analogous articles from a galvanizing bath comprising a support including means for engaging a bucket after it has passed through said bath and is partly projected therefrom in approximately horizontal position, means mounting said support for rotation and for upward and downward movement, said engaging means including means for gripping the bucket adjacent its rim at the then upper portion thereof, means for automatically moving said support means upwardly in a curved path todrain the interior of the bucket and means operable after the bucket has left the bath to rotate the support and thus rotate the bucket about an axis generally lengthwise thereof to produce uniform metal deposit and spangle.

7. Means for extracting buckets and analogous articles from a galvanizing bath comprising a support including means for engaging a bucket after it has passed through said bath and is partly projected therefrom in approximately horizontal position, means mounting said support for rotation and for upward and downward movement, said engaging means including means for gripping the bucket adjacent its rim at the then upper portion thereof, means for automatically moving said support means to raise the bucket and simultaneously raise the bottom thereof relative to the top to drain the interior of the bucket, and means operable after the bucket has left the bath to rotate the support and thus rotate the bucket about an axis generally lengthwise thereof to produce uniform metal deposit and spangle.

8. Means for extracting buckets and analogous articles from a galvanizing bath comprising a support including means for engaging a bucket after it has passed through said bath and is partly, projected therefrom in approximately horizontal position, means mounting said support for rotation and for upward and downward movement, said engaging means including means for gripping the bucket adjacent its rim at the then upper portion thereof, means for automatically moving said support means to raise the bucket and simultaneously raise the bottom thereof relative to the top to drain the interior of the bucket, means operable subsequently to lower the bottom of the bucket relative to the top to drain its under side, and means operable after the bucket has left the bath to rotate the support and thus rotate the bucket about an axis generally lengthwise thereof to produce uniform metal deposit and spangle.

9. Means for extracting buckets and analogous articles from a galvanizing bath comprising a support including means for engaging a bucket after it has passed through said bath and a portion of its rim projects upwardly therefrom, means mounting said support for rotation and for upward and downward movement, said engaging means including means for gripping said projecting rim portion, means for automatically moving said support means upwardly in a curved path to drain the interior of the bucket, and means operable after the bucket has left the bath to rotate the support and thus rotate the bucket about an axis generally lengthwise thereof to produce uniform metal deposit and spangle.

10. Means forextracting buckets and analogous articles from a galvanizing bath comprising a support including means for engaging a bucket after it has passed through said bath and a portion of its rim projects upwardly therefrom, means mounting said support for rotation and for upward and downward movement, said engaging means including means for gripping said projecting rim portion, means for automatically moving said support means upwardly in a curved path to drain the interior of the bucket, means lengthwise thereof to produce uniform metal de-' posit and spangle.

' 11. Means for extracting buckets and analogous articles from a galvanizing bath compris-' ing a support including means for engaging a bucket after it has passed through said bath and is partly projected therefrom in approximately horizontal position, means mounting said support for rotation and for upward and downward movement, said engaging means including means then upper portion thereof, means for automatically moving said support means upwardly and for simultaneously moving the same to raise the bottom of the bucket relative to the top to drain the interior of the bucket, and means operable after the bucket has left the bath to rotate the support and thus rotate the bucket about an axis generally lengthwise thereof to produce form metal deposit and spangle.

12. Means for extracting buckets and analogous articles from a galvanizing bath comprising a support including means for engaging a bucket after it has passed through said bath and is partly projected therefrom in approximately for gripping the bucket adjacent its rim at the horizontal position, means mounting said support for rotation and for upward and downward movement, said engaging means including means for gripping the bucket adjacent its rim at the then upper portion thereof, means for automatically moving said support means upwardly and for simultaneously moving the same to raise the bottom of the bucket relative to the top to drain the interior of the bucket and to move the bucket laterally to be released at a receiving point horizontally offset from the portion of the surface of the bath from which the bucket extracted, and means operable after the bucket has left the bath to rotate the support and thus rotate the bucket about an axis generally lengthwise thereof to produce uniform metal deposit and spangle.

CLIFFORD E. BROWNELL. 

